The solution? Regional consolidation by annexing the suburbs, he said.

The idea isn’t a new one: the city of Chicago’s borders stretched aggressively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when several municipalities were added within the city’s boundaries in exchange for urban services at a lower cost and higher volume, like water and sewage systems. Among them were Hyde Park, Lake View and Jefferson Townships.

The trend slowed down by 1930, with the exception of adding O’Hare International Airport in 1956 to keep another airport on city property.

“My hope is that both Chicago and the suburbs will think about what’s best for the region, and not what’s best for their little corner of it,” McClelland said. “The latest census figures show the entire metro area is shrinking, so we’re all in this together now.”

Jan. 23: Thousands of people moved out of the city and state over the past three years. Two former Illinois residents weigh in on their decisions, while another wrestles with the idea of packing his bags for good.

Dec. 27: Illinois' population declined in 2016 for the third straight year, losing more people than any other state in the union. The drop of more than 37,000 people leaves Illinois with a population just north of 12.8 million.